Lifeworlds in Crisis: Making Refugees in the Chad–Sudan Borderlands

The Darfur War has caused mass displacement, leading to hundreds of thousands being driven from their homes and many forced into refugee camps. Andrea Behrends' book explores the repercussions of this conflict for those living through it, focusing on how people create belonging, exchange knowledge, develop new practices, and build futures in the face of uncertainty. She combines meticulous ethnographic description with theoretically grounded arguments to offer a pioneering study of how individuals have anticipated, survived, and adapted to recurring crises and war in one of the world's most economically marginalized regions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

The Darfur War, which has persisted since 2003, has resulted in widespread displacement, forcing hundreds of thousands of individuals to flee their homes and seek refuge in western Sudan and neighboring Chad. Building on extensive research spanning two decades in the region, Andrea Behrends delves into the profound consequences of this conflict, often referred to as the "first genocide of the twenty-first century." Her account explores the experiences of those who remained in their communities, those who transitioned from rural to urban areas, those who sought refuge in refugee camps, and those who actively participated in the conflict. Telling the story of daily survival along the Chad-Sudan border, a region of significant political importance in the broader region, Behrends sheds light on the ways in which individuals navigate the challenges of extreme uncertainty, striving to create a sense of belonging, exchange knowledge, develop new practices, and shape their futures.

By departing from the predominant focus on large-scale humanitarian and military interventions associated with "states of emergency," Behrends highlights the emergence of cooperative and mutually beneficial forms of knowledge production on the ground in these lifeworlds in crisis. She skillfully combines meticulous ethnographic description with theoretically grounded arguments to offer a pioneering study of how individuals have anticipated, survived, and adapted to recurring crises and war in one of the world's most economically marginalized regions.

Through her research, Behrends reveals the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit in the face of adversity. She emphasizes the importance of localized knowledge and community-based responses to crises, highlighting the significance of grassroots initiatives and the role of ordinary individuals in shaping their collective futures. Her study contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics of conflict, displacement, and resilience, offering valuable insights into the ways in which individuals and communities navigate the challenges of protracted crises and strive for a better future.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911723226